At atmospheric pressure, water has a boiling point too high to allow it to be used as the turbine-pushing fluid in an OTEC electric generator. How might the generator be modified to overcome this problem?
A)Raise the temperature of the water.
B)Operate the generator only in warm climates.
C)Reduce the pressure above the water.
D)Use a relatively large generator.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

By reducing the pressure above the water, its boiling point can be lowered, allowing it to be used as the turbine-pushing fluid. This can be achieved through the use of a vacuum pump or by enclosing the system in a partial vacuum. Raising the temperature of the water may also work, but this would require a significant increase in temperature, making it impractical. Operating the generator only in warm climates or using a relatively large generator will not solve the problem of the high boiling point of water at atmospheric pressure.

At Atmospheric Pressure, Water Has a Boiling Point Too High